Russellville officials made their case Monday for why a new state veterans home should be located in the city.

A 22-member task force announced earlier this month Russellville is one of four finalists for a facility to replace a Little Rock home that state officials closed because of deteriorating conditions.

The new development is expected to cost $20 million and create 200 medical and support staff positions.

Russellville presented an attractive proposal, according to Mayor Bill Eaton. The proposed site is on about 22.5 acres at Sixth Street and Tyler Road, near State Highway 331, U.S. Highway 64 and less than a mile from Interstate 40. The land for the facility is owned by the Arkansas Valley Alliance for Economic Development and would be donated, if Russellville was selected.

The city also offered a number of other incentives, which would be paid for with proceeds from the city’s 1-cent sales tax earmarked for economic development. The incentives offered were free utility connections to the buildings; the city would pay 100 percent of the water for the first three years, 50 percent for the fourth year and 25 percent for the fourth year; free fiber optic link at the site; free gated community decorative perimeter fencing with two electronic gates; free beautification landscaping; free handicapped accessible outdoor tables, chairs and fishing pier; and free community organized job fairs. Eaton said the fishing pier would be located at a proposed pond to be dug at the site.

“I feel like we made a good pitch,” he said.

Eaton said the basic requirements for the veterans home were 20 acres of level land near residential or light commercial development with utilities. Other preferences were proximity to motels, restaurants, shopping, interstate access, healthcare facilities and public transport. Public support for the project was another factor, and Eaton said the project has strong support in the Arkansas River Valley.

Eaton said although Russellville does not have public transport, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) runs a regular shuttle to the veterans hospital in Little Rock and could implement a local shuttle for veterans as well.

Questions were asked about the possibility of expansion at the site, Eaton said. He said a portion of an adjacent 60-acre parcel could be used for expansion. Another concern brought up by the task force was zoning. Currently, the proposed location is zoned for industrial use, but Eaton said a zoning change could be made.

The task force also visited Forth Smith on Monday, another of the four selected finalists. The Southwest Times Record reported the 25-acre site is next to the planned Interstate 49 route and adjacent to Camp Hope for Heroes, a service facility for veterans.

Visits for the final two cities, Benton and Jacksonville, are planned for today.